Imposter syndrome at a top summer program
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Anonymous
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Someone wrote here about summer research program.
What’s your advice to a kid who got into a top research program (3-5% acceptance rate), but has imposter syndrome? He applied to this program to get mentorship for the first research project and were honest about it. The caliber of kids in this program is very high - US Olympiad team members, AIME qualifiers, science Olympiad winners. Our kid got in because he is from underrepresented state, However, after interviewing with the professor and talking to alumni he realized it’s a very hands off program. There is actually little to no mentorship. Kids do all the work. The kid is afraid to be a failure among the “insanely cracked research ppl” and not get any support. What’s your advice? Should he try anyway? |
Anonymous
If it's SSP, they worked in teams. And to be honest, summer programs like SSP don't really ask you to do original research. The experiments are already designed prior by the organizers, the teams execute the plan, and present the results. If your DC has nothing better planned, then go and have fun. |
Anonymous
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Of course he should try!
He might do amazingly well. If he has some trouble keeping up, at least he knows now and not when he's encountering these same kids as a freshman in college. (Long story short: I did a scholarship competition at my university the spring before I enrolled. I BOMBED it. Did not know how dumb I was until that moment. BUT ... with time and perspective, I saw that I just hadn't been as well prepared as some kids. I wasn't as familiar with critical thinking. I worked really hard in college and graduated as a top student.) |
Anonymous
| They also heavily recruit from underrepresented communities, and particularly welcome kids who do not have any experience in research. No worried. |
Anonymous
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It's always good to understand the competition or whatever they are.
I would tell your kid to go, be humble, make friends with cracked people, elevate his level of play. There should be some nice kids in the program. |
Anonymous
| This awareness is important. Just work hard and take this opportunity seriously. Learn from other kids. |
Anonymous
| sounds like an amazing opportunity! |
Anonymous
Yes! He should do it. Reassure him they would not have admitted him if he doesn't belong there. My kid had a confidence issue in a top summer program. Everyone else talked a big game. She was intimidated. Then she got paired with another girl for a project who was very very confident. But in working with her, my kid realized she got concepts that this other girl just didn't get. That was an eye opener for her. But she had to experience it to learn this lesson, as your kid will too. |
Anonymous
| Please ease his expectations. Even an insanely cracked kid is not going to produce legitimate substantive work during the course of a summer program. Such an idea is an insult to those who actually do research. This is just a great learning opportunity, and he should treat it as such. |
Anonymous
| They picked your kid, he can do it, and it’s an amazing life changing opportunity. Full speed ahead! |
Anonymous
| It's fake and made up so don't worry. |
Anonymous
| Remind him that the point is for him to learn something, not to impress everyone. |
Anonymous
| “Imposter syndrome” is an another manufactured problem of today’s youth. I’d tell him to stay off social media. |
Anonymous
No, it's not. It existed back in my day too. - HYPSM grad |
Anonymous
| Do the summer program unless it’s ridiculously expensive and forget about the cracked kids. They aren’t brighter just possibly more experienced and they are usually really sweet, fun kids, too. |